Like adults teenagers also seek assistance and rely on parents, teachers and friends to recognize their suffering and find the proper solution to problems.
The natural transition from child to adult can also bring parental clash as teens start to declare their independence. So you should learn the signs, when a teenager requires help.
Warning signs your teenager is reaching out for help
• The student may look depressed, have low energy, not be able to concentrate on one thing and have general concentration difficulties. There can also be signs of frustration or poor attendance in school. The teen may not feel like going to school, drop in grades, or get irritated with schoolwork. This is especially found in formerly good students. There may be loss of interest in activities.
• The teen might start using alcohol or drugs if feeling frustrated about a particular thing or depressed. He might drink alcohol or take drugs in an attempt to self medicate the depression.
• There are other signs like anorexia (eating disorder characterized by extremely low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight), bulimia (self-induced vomiting), binge eating and yo-yo dieting. The student may have irregular food habits, or does not feel like eating anything, or eats excessively. Teen might also develop irregular sleeping habits.
• Some start using foul languages frequently or start talking about running away from home. These attempts are a cry for help.
• The student can have intensified feelings of ugliness, failure, shame and unworthiness. He starts talking negatively about himself and does not think about anything in a positive manner.
• The teen can also attempt self mutilation like burning or cutting his hand or other body parts. They try to harm themselves and induce self injuries.
• Few teens, especially the victims of bullying, get very violent and involve themselves in violence and homicidal rage.
• Going online to escape from the problem is also another method but this not only increases their isolation but also makes them more depressed.
• Reckless behavior is also a warning sign. A teen with a problem may engage in out-of-control drinking, reckless driving and unsafe sex.
• An attempt at suicide is the most common sign that the teen is going through some serious problem or is seriously depressed about something. Writing stories and poems about death, dying, or suicide can also be one of the signs. Immediate steps should be taken to help the teen with suicidal behaviors.
